Super Meteor vs Vulcan S - Best 650 Beginner Cruiser?

[@Bobby-wn5yr]

‘If you want to be a cruiser rider offending people should be top of the list’ I don’t normally quote bits of the video we just watched in the comments, but man y’a got me

[@MotoJournoKris]

😄Couldn't help but include that!

[@johnshifler5439]

Love my Super Meteor. Because of my age it's probably my last bike but I still wouldn't even consider a different bike. Thank you RE !

[@TXLorenzo]

Totally concur. The Royal Enfield, as a vertical twin, stays true to itself and its heritage. The Kawasaki, although technically proficient, is still a copy of something else.

[@markchalupsky2336]

I have one of each and really like them both.

[@bramcurtis6900]

I'd take the Vulcan. For a few reasons. Stone reliability. Very wide dealer network and general service. 20 more hp. It can dust off most big bore V twin cruisers. And in the satin black kitted out as a weekend bagger. To me it looks fuckin' cool. Add an Arrow Rebel exhaust, K&N air filter and a tune. I'd be proud to ride it at Daytona bike week.

[@MotoJournoKris]

The Vulcan is really underrated, definitely agree with all the advantages there.

[@ghostmost2614]

Not a beginner and still love my Vulcan

[@thepodbaydoorshal]

Would be interesting to see the RE matched up against the Triumph Speedmaster. They may not be in the same bracket price wise but I think they appeal to the same kind of sensibilities in a buyer and with the RE priced at nearly half the Triumph, it would be good to see how they stack up against each other.

[@MotoJournoKris]

That'd be a really interesting comparison, there's definitely some overlap there, with the RE offering quite a bargain if it can even somewhat match the Triumph! I haven't actually ridden a Speedmaster yet either, so be interested to see what's on offer.

[@Thesilverrat]

Everyone talks about beginners when lots of us elderly ex bikers with lower reflexes want safe power, comfort and safety. Oh and us oldies can still service our bikes so guess what hits that spot.

[@MotoJournoKris]

Honestly, I think returning riders who haven't ridden often for decades fall into the same realistic category as beginners across many of the metrics. It was the only group of riders outpacing new (young) riders for accidents here in Australia, although that was in part because they could jump on superbikes with 200 hp straight away. The 650 class is ideal though for anyone with sensible power expectations, and 50-70 hp is a good spot to be for an all-rounder that may not need upgrading.

[@jonathanwallis6854]

I went to the RE store to check out the RE Classic 350 for my first bike but couldn’t keep my eyes off the Super Meteor. I’m not that into cruisers but the SM just looks ‘right’. Great stance and presence plus the build quality was good. So now I’m limbering up to get the SM!

[@MotoJournoKris]

Yep, it's a cool machine! Ideal if you'd like a bit more performance than the 350s.

[@TXLorenzo]

There is not angle of the RE SM650 that doesn't look great.

[@aryahimankur]

Super meteor the best … I got it and loving it.

[@MotoJournoKris]

Awesome right!!!

[@detachedloop1004]

The exhaust note alone of Royal Enfield's thumpy engines makes it all the worthwhile 😋

[@flesz_]

I prefer the looks of Kawasaki, but would need another £700 or more for custom exhaust (arrow or delkevic)

[@detachedloop1004]

@@flesz_ it doesn't really work on the vulcans. The exhaust mods only make them louder but they don't have the bass and thump. It comes from the engine. Enfields have a history of making long stroke thumpy engines that gives them that distinct note so for any bike to sound good with an aftermarket exhaust it's basic sound has to be good first and that's something the engine decides. The Vulcan can never sound like that as it takes the engine from a sort of racier z650 bike with a naked sportster characteristic

[@flesz_]

@@detachedloop1004 yeah I get it , it probably won't sound as good. I am looking to buy my first bike after 20y of not having one and will definitely test ride both of them and decide :)

[@detachedloop1004]

@@flesz_ that's how it should be. We never know what we might end up liking in a bike. Vulcan S is the best performer in its segment but we connect with any particular bike for its own character

[@joshuadsouza7778]

Between the two on a hot summer day when in traffic which bike engine heats up more ? Which bike engine heat is more bearable as a daily commuter?

[@MotoJournoKris]

The Vulcan S being liquid cooled should disperse a fair bit more heat and run cooler than the Super Meteor. Testing both bikes it's been fairly mild so heat hasn't been an issue. Not so sure about the height of summer in 35-40 degrees though!

[@OriginaleasyD]

I've had the Super Meteor on order since last winter. Getting one in the States is very difficult!!

[@MotoJournoKris]

Is it just not enough stock? I can see them being worried as to whether there'd be the demand in such a Harley dominated market.

[@artiecisneros4691]

@@MotoJournoKris They have been selling Royal Enfield bikes here in the States for a few years. I bought a '21 Meteor 350 and waiting for the 650 Super to come to San Diego, Ca. 😎

[@artiecisneros4691]

I'm also waiting for one here in San Diego. 😎

[@MotoJournoKris]

Wicked, what colour did you go with?@@artiecisneros4691

[@artiecisneros4691]

@@MotoJournoKris Basic green for the 650, My 350 Fireball red.

[@mcornielle]

In argentina the vulca is 10 thousand dollars more expensive than the super meteor, I guess that's settles it

[@MotoJournoKris]

Yikes, yea when the price difference is huge, it makes the comparison on the buying end much, much easier!

[@TXLorenzo]

Yowch!!

[@richowilson38]

I've owned a new RE and the build quality on the 350 classic was crap. It's not the paint, or the vinyl, it's the steel grade that's poor, and the 350 engine was dated and unreliable. I know this is a new engine but it's still the same " cut corners" company. When you buy Japanese, you get quality. Indian bikes are like Chinese bikes. They are good on paper, but are horrible when they go wrong, which they often do. The kwaka is a way better choice. 👍

[@MotoJournoKris]

The newer 350 or the older ones? The newer EFI bikes seem much improved from I've seen, although I haven't owned one long term. The 650 was a massive step up from the 350 and 500s, and the design philosophy around them seemed much more in line with a Japanese bike, as they're a much more premium bike even in India than their smaller machines. The Japanese bikes certainly take the cake for build quality, but some of those are also made in Thailand, so I think if the quality assurance and materials are right, India and China should be able to compete, especially with so many of the European bikes being made there now.

[@richowilson38]

The new ones. 2018 model. Several brackets snapped off with vibration before it did 8000km. Wing mirrors always come loose, developed terrible tappet noise, and a few other niggly things. Apart from being horrendously gutless

[@MotoJournoKris]

@@richowilson38 Yea that'd be the first (modern) gen, which were quite basic (and cheap), they had a big update in 2022 and seemed to improve things quite drastically overall. Still pretty gutless though, lol!